Hello, Wisconsin. There’s a music festival on Line 1.
Last week we reported on Crash Line Productions’ possible expansion into the Midwest, as the producers of the Boston Calling Music Festival are seeking to create a new large-scale weekend event curated by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.
Late last week, the proposed Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival cleared another hurdle, gaining approval from the site’s local planning commission and getting one step closer to operating at Foster Farm in the town of Union next summer.
From Wisconsin’s Leader-Telegram:
The town of Union Comprehensive Planning Commission Thursday recommended the approval of conditional use permits allowing the festival to be held July 17 and 18 at the Country Jam grounds and the use of Whispering Fields and Whispering Pines campgrounds for those attending.
“This is a very unique event blending many different things,” said Eau Claire attorney Rich White, representing the applicant for the conditional use permit for the festival.
The proposed event — in the works for more than a year — would bring a blend of music, dance, art, cinema and culinary arts to the Chippewa Valley and is expected to generate a daily attendance of 25,000.
As we reported last week, Foster Farm is currently used for the area’s annual country music fest Country Jam (see above and below photos from countryjamwi.com). Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival would operate a week before Country Jam and use the festival’s infrastructure, which includes two main stages and a tent stage that can accommodate up to 6,000 people. The festival would not be limited to music, mixing in elements of film, dance, culinary art, and visual/light installations.
And Vernon’s role, at least musically, appears to be similar to that of Aaron Dessner of the National, who helps curate the bi-annual Boston Calling Music Festival. Vernon lives in Eau Claire and would oversee booking and curation of the festival. Vernon also plays in the Wisconsin-based band Volcano Choir, which was one of two acts that did not get to perform at last month’s Boston Calling due to the Saturday session’s inclement weather.
Up next, according to the Leader-Telegram report: “The recommendation will be forwarded to the Union Town Board on Oct. 14 and Eau Claire County Board’s Planning and Development Committee on Oct. 28.”
Crash Line co-founder Brian Appel says he will be present at each community meeting moving forward to address local concerns, such as the festival’s scheduling and vendor transportation issues.
“My intent is to be here for every meeting,” says Appel in the report. “We are a quick plane ride away.”
Here’s some of the layout, used for Country Jam…
